Key carrier



Mam}! 1931- L. SALFISBERG 1,797,999

I KEY CARRIER Filed April 29, 1.950

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dummy Patented Mar. 24, 1931 UNITED STATES LEROY L. SALFISBEBG, OF SOUTH ORANGE, NEWJERSEY KEY CARRIER Application filed April 29,

The subject-matter of the present invention is directed to key carries adapted to support a plurality of keys.

Primarily, the object of the invention resides in the provision of an article of the above-mentioned character wherein a plurality of keys are arranged in frictional interrelationship, said relationship permitting of rotative movement of the keys or a key when the latter is to be inserted in a lock.

, Another object is to provide means whereby a plurality of keys may be arranged in cooperative relation to a base member in a manner to preclude displacement of a key, said 16 keys being held in any position to which they may be rotated.

Another object of the invention is to provide a flexible member to which any number of keys may be attached, said flexible member being adapted to be associated with a base plate to hold the keys in position and ina manner to permit convenient removal thereof when additional keys are added to said member.

A further object is the provision of a hinged clamping member adapted to be latched in a position to firmly anchor said flexible member against said base plate.

Another aim of the invention is to produce an article wherein the keys are held in a flexible but firm manner so that when one of the keys is inserted in the lock of an automobile, for instance, the ignition lock, the companion keys will not rattle about to the detriment of the finish of the instrument board of said machine.

As will presently appear the device is adapted to receive keys that may be assembled therewith to present the teeth thereof up or down so thatthey are always in position to be inserted in a lock, said keys being capable of arrangement thereon whereby the sense of feeling may locate a desired key.

The invention is further featured by the provision of a base plate which may be finished to preclude tearing of the pocket of the user, said base plate being capable of receiving advertising thereon, whereby it may find use as a novelty token by automobile firms, 50 or accessory houses, and as said base plate 1930. Serial No. 448,187.

may be finished in attractive colors, it becomes a thing of beauty appealing to a certain extent to the public at large.

With these and other objects inview, to-

gether with others which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the novel formation, combination, and arrangement of parts, all as will be described more fully hereinafter, illustrated in the drawings, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In said drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of my novel and improved key carriershowing the keys nested beneath the base plate.

Fig. 2 is a plan view-thereof, the dot and dash indication showing a keyrotated from. the carrier. r

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line 33 of Fig. 2. Y

Fig. dis a plan vie of the base plate per se.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view thereof taken on the line 5-5.of Fig. 4.

b Fig. 6 is a detail view of a clamping mem- Fig. 7 is a plan view thereof.

Fig. 8 is a view showing a hinged member prior to its forming to pivotally connect the I clamping member to said base plate.

Referring now more in detail to the accompanying drawings, let lOdenote the base plate of my novel key carrier which may be constructed of metal, bakelite, or similar material, and which will be proportioned to receive a plurality of keys generally indicated by the numeral 11, in Fig. 1. The particular construction of saidbase plate will be clearly understood on inspection of Figs. 4 and 5, wherein it will be observed that I have provided an enlargement 12 on its upper surface as viewed in Fig. 4, saicl enlargement being provided with recess 13 which extends. to an aperture 1 1, that portion of said recess adj aoent said aperturebeing slightly deepened, as indicated at 15, for the reception of a hinged member, about to be described. As shown in Fig. 5 said recess 13 is. provided with a groove 16, which is supplied with spiral ridges 17 ,one end ofsaid groove 10, the extremities the-reoi being. bent to fix 16 terminating at the opening 18 extending to the bottom surface of said base plate 10. Said base plate 10 is also provided with a slot 19, adjacent said opening 18, and it will be noted that said slot 19 extends from one end of said recess 13 to the lower surface of said base plate, Eas clearly shown in Fig. 5..

As enplailred ihereinbefore, it is proposed to provide a key carrier whereby a plurality of keys may be held in a pre-arranged order and whereby said keys-may-be rotatively supported on a base plate and trictionally held in assembled positions thereon. Further, means is provided whereby a definite number of keys may be associated with a base plate, Lsaid number ofgkeys -being capable of variation, as desired, and said definite number being held in close assembled relation with saidbase plate.

The. key retaining means is composite in strncture'and comprises a resilient .or spring memher'QO, loneend thereof being fixedly secured'tmthe:threaded shank 21 of the: button '22, as shownnin Fig. 3,, the medial portion The clamping member heretofore referred to-issdesign ated bythe numera'l'QG, said member being substantially U-shaped in presssection .and having a slot 21'. arranged at its inner end for the reception of one leg-28 :ot a .hingem'em'her Asshown in Fig. 8, the hinge member is formedbya.singlepiece of material adapted to the bent .to the Fform shown in Fig. 3, one leg 28, as aforesaid, pass ing through the slot 27in said clamping member -26, said leg-28 and its companion 3.0 being insertible zin slot 19 in said base plate edly anchor the sameiineplace. in view of this arrangement said clamping member 26 is .pivotally disposed withfrespect to said base plate and maybe lowered :to :the positionshown in Fig. :3, or it may be swung upwardly after releasing certainl-atch means, as will presentlyrapp ear.

Said latch 'means 31 in construction, is somewhat similar .to .the welleknown eyelet, ini'th'at the same is hollow and after insertion in the aperture '14, the lower portion thereof is :fiexed outwardly as shown "in Fig. :3. However, the unio-n: of said :latch means 31 and said aperture -14I=is not sufficient to preclude freerotation otsaidme'ans in said aperture. it will betnoted that isaidslatch means is provided with a lip 32 which is adaptedtouoyerlie the .nose portion'33 of said clamping member 2.6.

- Uponfinspection ot'Figs. 1 land-:3, it will tion '33 of said clamping member 26 and the latter isfree to be elevated on its pivotal connection. 3

Reverting-mime t e pring member .20yi will be noted that theseries-ofkeys 11 are now supported thereby and assuming that said clamping member 26 has beeneleyated, as .aforesa ch t as only necessary to lnsegrt;

said spring member through the gopen-ing 18 in said base plate 10, whereupon saidimember is, bent slightly at vright angles and'the lamping member is swung downwardly until said spring member is engaged her by-- A continued depression of said clamp ng member bends said spring member to the.

position shown-in Fig. 3; and as the nose pore tion 33 arrives within the deepened portion 15, saidlatch means is rotated :until the lip;

32 overlies said nose portion 33, whereupon the parts assume :the position shown "in sai Fig; 3.. The engagement pfthe sever-al -conv-olutions .of said spring member with the ridges 1T the groove 16 positively; preeludes the escape uot said member, ".bnt this fixed relationship 5 does not teriereov the freerotation of the keys'qor ,atseleoted key, since the resiliency of the spring -25 permits relative monements between thekeys, an yet this movement is :snfioiently =restrictiye to prevent a loose-cooperationoi the keys. In this way, rattling or othermovement Oft B several keys is prevented.

When it is desired to remove a key,-or t substitute an additionalkey, the clamping member is. swung upwardly afterreleasing its nose portion from the lip 32:01 the vlatch means 31. The. spring member 20 vmay be withdrawn from the opening 18 and, the operation completed. The *replaceme t'of said.

springmember is .as atoresaid. I

From :the iio-regoing it is apparentwthat l have .devised a keyv carrier'wherein a base plate and. axtensioning deviceholdsrthe keys in any position .to which they are=rotated view iofithe flexible spring memberQOthe keys are'held toithe base plate when'bent atrig angles and secured in ridges 17 'ibynnfians of the clamping member, as aforesaid. ObviP onsly, so long as the ll'PuOIE the latch means maintains the position indicated in Fig. 2, there is no danger-0f the key arni hwming apart.

'While :the present adisclosure otthe.

preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto, as various changes in the minor details of construction, proportion and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim: 1. A key carrier comprising a base plate,

resilient key-retaining means cooperating therewith, a clamping member hmgedly borne by said plate and adapted to removably secure said key-retaining means to said plate and rotatable latch means coupling the free end of said clamping means to said plate.

2. A key carrier comprising a base plate having a groove, flexible key-retaining means adapted to fit in said groove, a clamping member hingedly borne by said plate and adapted to removably secure said key-retaining means in said groove and latch means adapted to removably secure the free end of said clamping means to said plate.

3. A key carrier comprising a base plate having a longitudinal recess and a groove having an opening at one end, resilient key retaining means insertible within said opening, a clamping member hingedly borne by said plate and adapted to fit in said recess to removably position said key-retaining means within said groove and rotatable latch means having a lip portion adapted to overlie the free end of said clamping means to position the same within said recess.

i 4. A key carrier comprising a base plate having a longitudinal recess and a groove having an opening at one end, flexible key retaining means insertible within said opening, and a clamping member hingedly borne by said plate and adapted to fit in said recess to removably position said key retaining means within said groove.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

LEROY L. SALFISBERG. 

